Automatic cut-out for engines



W. R. HAMILTON AUTOMATIC GUT-OUT FOR ENGINES Jan. 11, 1927." I 61 Filed July 31,. 1924 Patented Jan. 11, 1927.

UNITED STATES WILLIAM R. HAMILTON,

OF DEWEY, OKLAHOMA.

AUTOMATIC CUT-OUT FOR ENGINES.

Application filed July 31,

My invention relates to an improven'ient in automatic cut-outs for engines.

The object is to attain safety. This is done by a centrifugal device for automatical- 1y switching off th electric current when a speed shall have been obtained suflicient to throw the operating lever out by centrifugal action.

The invention consists of a lever movably attached to the moving part of an engine, such as a fly wheel where it is adapted to be moved from its normal position by centrifugal action, in connection with an electric switch which the lever engages when it moves from normal thereby breaking the circuit and causing the engine to stop.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a view in elevation, with a part broken away;

Fig. 2 is a diagram; and

Fig. 3 is a detail.

A is the fly wheel of any engine, such as gas, gasoline, or any internal combustion engine that uses electric or battery sparks.

The numeral 1 represents a lever pivoted to the fly wheel at 2 and normally pulled back from the rim thereof by the spring 3 against the stop 4, and having its end 5 in position to enter through the opening 6 in the rim of the fly wheel as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1.

A switch or circuit breaker 7 which controls the circuit 8 to the spark plug 9, is pivoted as at 10, in proximity to the outer surface of the rim of the fly wheel where it is struck by the end 5 of the lever 1 when the speed of the engine has become sufficiently high to cause the lever 1 to swing outwardly to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1 by centrifugal action. When this 1924. Serial No. 729,423.

happens, the end 5 oil the lever pokes through the opening 6 of the rim of the fly wheel into the path of the switch or circuitbreaker 7 thereby swinging upon its pivot 10 to open the switch and break the circuit. In this simple way all danger from speeding of the engine abnormally is eliminated.

The speed at which this automatic cut-out acts may be varied by connecting the spring 3 to the lever 1 at different points distant from the pivot 52 of the lever and the holes 11 therein are provided for this purpose, all of which will be readily understood.

In this simple manner all danger of overspeeding is automatically controlled, and the 55 danger resulting from such speeding wholly eliminated.

I claim:

The combination of a flanged rotary element, a lever pivoted to said rotary element to be moved relative thereto under the influence of centrifugal force, said lever having an arm projecting laterally therefrom adapted to pass through an opening in the flange of said rotary element when moved 05 outwardly, the outward movement being limited by the flange, a spring connected to said movable lever for normally holding the lever in its innermost position, an electric circuit-breaker adjacent said rotary ele- 7o ment, a switch contact carried by said circuit-breaker, a switch-arm pivoted to said circuit-breaker in position to engage said contact for closing an electric circuit, said switch-arm having an outward and lateral projection thereon in position to be engaged by the said lever-arm for opening the electric circuit.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

WILLIAM R. HAMILTON. 

